Hello fellow collegues !

[Elicia RN]

i was hoping someone out there could help me gain a better understanding of the exact physiology/interdynamics of the use of iabc.

i recently started a position in the cticu~i have done medical icu, ccu, interventional cardiology, ed to name a few areas in my background. however, i have not worked with balloons !

i am aware that it is used to: decrease the workload of the heart & to increase coronary perfusion.

where i stumble is exactly how it does this ? my best understanding is that the balloon inflates during diastole (when the coronaries receive most of their purfusion) & deflates just prior to systole (just before the aortic valve opens) .

is is so that the inflation of the balloon during diastole causes an increased backflow of blood which increases coronary perfusion ???

how does the deflation of the balloon just prior to systole decrease afterload ??? is it as simple as a sudden decrease in pressure ??? this does not make sense to me, as "afterload" refers to the resistance the lv must overcome to push out through the aortic valve ???

can anyone help

frustrated rn

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Welcome! Since this is in the Introductions forum, I'm going to move your question to the cardiac forum to hopefully get you an answer.

[angle71054]

You are correct in thinking that an IABP as it inflates it provides an increase in perfusion, it almost gives it a second stoke of oxygen rich blood so to speak. Also as it inflates it gives just a little more pressure in to the arteries to help push by a narrowed area allowing more of the heart to be better perfused (especially when the IABP is being used a bridge to surgery). As it deflates it almost creates a neg space aorta allowing the heart to not have to work so hard to open up the aortic valve to perfuse the body. Basically decreasing the svr.

I hope that helps I am not the best at explaining things. Wanted to help and its been a while since you posted felt it needed a response. If i didn't explain well enough be sure to ask those nurses around you, or hell you can even call your IABP rep and ask them if you don't the answers you need.

[BBFRN, BSN, PhD]

You are correct in thinking that an IABP as it inflates it provides an increase in perfusion, it almost gives it a second stoke of oxygen rich blood so to speak. Also as it inflates it gives just a little more pressure in to the arteries to help push by a narrowed area allowing more of the heart to be better perfused (especially when the IABP is being used a bridge to surgery). As it deflates it almost creates a neg space aorta allowing the heart to not have to work so hard to open up the aortic valve to perfuse the body. Basically decreasing the svr.

I hope that helps I am not the best at explaining things. Wanted to help and its been a while since you posted felt it needed a response. If i didn't explain well enough be sure to ask those nurses around you, or hell you can even call your IABP rep and ask them if you don't the answers you need.

I thought you did a great job explaining it!

To the OP- I would suggest taking the IABP class before taking balloon pump patients if your facility offers it. They'll go over the physiology of it all in the class.